Drum scanner info - scanmate plus ii

[ViktorK]

hello any users of scanmate plus ii : http://www.promarketinc.com/pdf/scanviewscanmateplusII.pdf
is it worth buying when the resolution is 2600dpi or am i better of buying good flat bed or some other scanner. Price of the scanmate plus ii is cca 400eur.

thanks

[Andrea Gazzoni]

I would prefer one with removable drum, so that wet mounting is easier.

[ViktorK]

d ou know of any drum scanner i this price range with removable drum?

[Pali K]

d ou know of any drum scanner i this price range with removable drum?

Hi Viktor,

Cheap and drum scanners don't usually go together but there are times when you can get lucky. I once bought a Scanmate 5000 for $500 which was listed for parts (and I bought it for parts) but it turned out to be a working machine. However, it took me almost 2 months and 40+ hours of total time working on it to calibrate it.

Have you every worked with a drum scanner before? The reason I ask is that it is quite a task to own, maintain and use drum scanners and there are many variables that need to be considered before buying one. I don't want to scare you but I hear of stories about people buying these machines and they can't do anything with it way too often to not warn you. They are absolute joy to use and quality can't be beat once everything is setup and going.

If you don't already know, keep the following in mind as you look for a drum scanner:


Drum scanners are heavy mechanical machines with multiple points for calibration failures.
You should always try to buy one that is in known working condition that they seller can you show you before buying it. If the scanner does not work or pass all of it's self checks, you can lose all of your money in the purchase.
Repair can be impossible and/or very expensive.


A realistic budget for a working setup is ~$2500 - $3500 for "entry" level desktop drum scanners. Eg: Scanmate 5000, Howtek 4000 or 4500, Color Getter Eagle, Screen 1045, and etc.
A realistic budget for a working setup is ~$5000 - $10,000 for pro level drum scanners. Eg: Scanmate 11000, Heidelberg Tango/Primescan, and etc.
Craigslist, closed Photo Labs, or local classifieds are your best bet for cheaper options. These deals do come up but not very often.

Good luck on your search for a drum scanner. Here are some resources for you to read up and ask for help.

Largest community of drumscanner users: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ScanHi-End/info
Scanmate DIY / Troubleshooting info: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139096
Howtek DIY/ Troubleshooting info: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157765

Regards,

Pali